My old camera was a Canon 20D (or another less-expensive, consumer-level camera), but I’m really unhappy with my photos. I recently purchased the new Canon 5D Mk II! Now I should be able to get much better pictures! I can’t wait to try it out!

How many of you have heard someone say something like this – or even said it yourself? It’s a sentiment that we hear over and over again. But, does your equipment really matter?

This shot from Paria Canyon in Utah was taken with a relatively inexpensive, consumer-level camera – the Canon 20D. The image was published in Popular Photography Magazine a few years ago, and has won more accolades and sold more prints than any other image in Varina’s portfolio. And yet – not a single publisher has asked about the equipment used to take the photo before asking about publication. No judge has asked which camera was used to get these results. And no buyer has requested information about equipment before making a purchasing decision.

Magazine and calendar companies are not interested in the equipment that was used to get the shot. They want high-resolution images for printing – they want to know the size of the image, and they want images that are sharp and free of noise. In many cases, an image will require up or down-sizing… but beyond a few technical specs, nobody (except other photographers) really cares what equipment you are using. It’s the photograph that matters. This shot from Death Valley National Park is Jay’s highest selling image – it was taken with a Canon 10D.

As outdoor photographers, our equipment is very visible… and common perception is that fancy equipment equals skill. Varina brought her Canon 7D to the soccer fields last Saturday – with the impressive-looking 70-200mm lens attached. A photographer friend of ours introduced her to another parent, and added that “her photos are incredible” (Thanks, Joe!). To her surprise, the response from this man she had never met was, “I know!” She thanked him for his kind words, and tried to figure out where he’d seen her work before… but it soon became apparent that he hadn’t seen it. His certainty that her photography was good was based solely on the fact that she was holding some beautiful equipment. Does fancy equipment make a good photographer? The fact is, most of the photos Varina has taken with that fancy lens are snapshots of the kids playing soccer – shots that certainly wouldn’t be considered fine art by anyone outside the immediate family! Her primary lens is the Canon 10-22mm wide-angle lens. It’s a much smaller and less conspicuous lens… which can’t even boast the “luxury-series” designation from Canon. Have any of you had similar experiences? We’d be very surprised if you hadn’t.

Of course, more expensive equipment comes with advanced functionality… that’s not in question, here. However, if you are struggling with photography, you need to consider whether you are limited by the capability of your camera system – or by our own lack of knowledge about photography. If you are struggling with the fundamentals of photography – out-of-focus images, poor highlight control, uninteresting compositions, lack of knowledge of histograms and exposure adjustment, or poor image processing – then purchasing new equipment will not improve your work. Your money would be better spent on a good photography class. Look for classes taught through local camera clubs and look online for articles, tutorials, or discussion forums. (I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that we offer Video courses and eBooks as well.) Don’t be afraid to ask questions… and submit your work for critique as often as you can. When you are secure in the basics – when you know how to use your camera and can get the results you want with the equipment you have – THEN think about the limitations of your equipment.

New equipment will not make you a better photographer. Only knowledge and experience can do that.

I know others have had similar experiences. What happens when you go out with your fancy equipment? Have publishers refused your work because it was shot with an “inferior” camera? Are you a better photographer because you own L-series glass and expensive camera equipment? 😉 As always – we’d love to hear from you!

I could startoff like this – “Seeds of Jay Patel’s appreciation for beautiful places were planted early in his childhood….” but it would get boring really fast. I will just sum it up and say that I am a Landscape and Wilderness Photographer who loves to capture dramatic light. My photographs have been published in various magazines, calendars and advertising materials throughout the world.

Very good article!! I currently use a Canon T2i with several lenses. I have been interested in landscape photography most of my life. I was toying with the idea of upgrading to a 6D, but realized that I could make very nice shots with the T2i. I just signed up for your online class, and I am looking forward to beginning the classes. Thanks for the words of wisdom!!

Thanks for G+ I stumbled upon this article from 3 years ago. It’s still relavent. As technology continues to outpace our demand (and even our own purchasing parity in a lot of cases;) it does get tempting to “upgrade to the latest”.

Retrospection is the most important tool for me as a photographer trying to improve his craft. More than my FM3A/Lubitel/Hasselblad, my most effective tools to making better pictures were the notes I kept on what happened and why if I changed what on my camera. After a decade I can shoot a velvia in pretty much any light with pretty good confidence (and know how it is going to turn out). It might seem like I am boasting, but those who know what I am talking about will realize that there is no alternative for practice. Mindful practice.
Then you can get the images you want with an iPhone or the 1Dx. If not.. repeat practice

Nice article Varina. There are so much people out there, that let their equipment limit their photography.
My favourit lens is my 50mm/1.8II I bought for about 90 bucks. It’s definitely not the best lens, but do I care? It’s light and because of this reason it’s in my bag all the time! The 1.4 or any other lens may would be at home when I needed it, just to save some weight…

I have been shooting corporate videos and portraits professionally with my T2i for three years now. I did get a couple pieces of L glass (70-200mm F2.8L IS and 16-35mm F2.8) to go with it. The glass really makes quite a difference, however the ONLY shortcoming of the body is that it is plastic. I won’t upgrade the body until I have to or I have an extra 6 grand laying around. I do advocate spending the money on glass. As long as you take care of it, it is a good investment. Hindsight being 20/20 I probably could have gotten the F4 non IS 70-200mm just because mine in SOOOO heavy after six hours of handheld. I’m a L glass snob, but I’ll take any body I can get. 😛

This is a great article and sure does touch upon a hot topic in the photography world. For several years I used a Sony Alpha 100 and was able to get some pretty good shots with it. Nothing that would set the world on fire, but to this day I still have a few from that camera in my portfolio. One day after a consultation session with a photographer I highly respect, I sat down and removed several hundred photographs from my portfolio. It wasn’t the cameras fault, it was simply that, under honest scrutiny, the photographs were not how I wanted to represent myself. In other words, I didn’t like them that much I still have some portfolio pruning to do, but my point is that I was in a very early learning stage and, for some mysterious reason, thought every shot I took was a keeper.

I eventually stopped using the Sony and tried two other cameras before settling on my current camera. The other cameras were fantastic, but, ultimately, I did not have a comfort level with them and as a result of that my work began to suffer. In addition to a lack of comfort I also suffered from doing little more than grabbing hundreds of images each time I went out, many of them pretty much duplicates of previous images, very few of them any good. What helped me in this situation was to simply stop taking so many photos! Some back injuries and a broken wrist helped quite a bit to slow me down and during that time I took a lot of time to read many books and carefully study the work of other photographers…and this has helped me find a new direction.

I would still consider myself new to the photography game, no doubt about that, but as I learn and mature I am discovering that the loss of one bad habit is worth a good lens any day! I look forward to continuing this journey of discovery and find myself fortunate to live in an area that is full of beauty all year round (Northern Michigan, lower peninsula).

One thing where gear makes you better–a decent tripod!! It only took me three tripods to find this lesson out!

Thanks both to Jay and Varina for their wonderful work, and their willingness to share with others their experience so that others may learn from them.

Great article. The camera is a tool to produce art, not the art itself. Filters, lighting, post processing (like HDR) also fall into this space – they are tools used to produce a desired end product and what and how you use them is irrelevant – it’s the end product that’s important!

Hello and thank you for your great site and precious tips, Im learning alot by reading your posts and I will buy your ebooks next, cause I finally have found what I was searching to help me to understand digital photography.
8 years ago I went to Norway and my equipment was my Canon FTb and 3 lenses, 35mm, 50mm and a 70 -210 zoom. I only missed a 24 or 20mm wide-angle, but I made great pics.
Now I want to buy a digital camera, but Im confused. I photograph landscapes and abstract mostly and I want to get high-quality shots and prints. Im using tripod and cable release etc and I use the lowest ISO possible. But what camera should I get? I planed to start with a 12 MP body ( EOS 1100D ) and a high-quality lens but I guess I should go for a 18 MP body or higher, to get an even better result.
Years ago, with dia-film everything was quiet easy to me, lol, but now, concerning digital Im really confused and I need some help.

Thank you so much in advance if you find time to answer me.
I wish you a wonderful time and take care always.

Your website, pictures and picture description(technique) are really helpful. . A right path adopted for learning is equally important. I feel Post processing is like equipment in your bag. Image must be prepared in proper order.

What a fine article. You both are like mentors to me. Excellent work indeed.

I have gone through two phases in my photography. In first phase I only had a Point n shoot camera and my passion was to create 360×180 panoramas with that.Passion won. I did lots of hardwork and made it possible. I made my own equipment, was limited with 38 mm fov, wait for 10 seconds so that picture is saved on memory card and 40-45 minutes for just one panorama But kept working and made panoramas.

In my second phase I have now 40d + samyang 8mm lens. Now I can work handheld and make an HDR panorama in 5 minutes time. Within few months I worked more than a 1.5 year work of my point n shoot camera.

I totally agree with your point of view. One must only have equipment as per needs. As per my little knowledge a great photographer captures “the moment”. And when “the moment” arrives an iphone, point and shoot or any camera will capture it beautifully. “the moment” cant be cooked in photoshop :))

In my personal experience equipment is necessary to an extent. A minimum level for every photographer is must.
But Passion, learning, hard work is what sets you apart. Its always a photographer not a camera.

Thanks so much, Emaad! Your panorama project sounds really cool – and it’s clear that better equipment made a big difference! More importantly – you understood the equipment you had, and you knew exactly what would help improve your productivity and workflow. That’s what we’re talking about here, and you hit the nail on the head. Learn to understand your equipment, learn how to use it – and when you find yourself needing more than your camera can offer, maybe it’s time to look for a newer model that can help you accomplish your goals. We both agree with you when you say that “passion, learning, and hard work” are more important than having the best or most expensive equipment available. Well said!

Great Shots you guys! I know that I continue to learn to use my equipment, but found that a good lens (as my “L” lenses) on a consumer camera can really help your shots to a degree. I recently bought the 5D MKlll and if you don’t know what your looking at it may seem like there is no difference but the learning curve is so much deeper over my 50D that I feel like a novice again trying to learn basics, but I can see the differences in tonality and even in the highlights to some degree when they are blown you can still get some detail back where I couldn’t with the 50D Learning all the settings for this camera and how they function. My problem is in learning how to use the software. I can use Lightroom OK but I have tried using Photoshop and have problems with all the different things like lasso, brushes, blends, curves, layers, masks, HDR and histograms. It just blows me out of the water!! I am going to try your book on Masks and see if that helps me. I don’t really do Landscapes most of mine is low light but your colors are fantastic. Makes me want to learn Thanks I know I need all the help I can get. If nothing else I can enjoy your excellent work, guys.

Thanks so much, Craig! Part of the reason I love photography is because I’ll never run out of new things to learn. I love discovering new techniques or ideas, learning to use new software or equipment… I never want to get to the point where I feel like I have nothing left to learn. 😉

Varina,
First and foremost; great work. As a young photographer who is still learning, and focused largely on landscapes, your work comes as an inspiration. I am currently shooting with a Sony NEX-3 which churns out some fantastic images for me. I chose the camera for it’s low light performance, image quality and the simple fact that it is more portable than most DSLR’s. People usually look at my images and ask “What kind of camera do you use?” And I always smirk before I reply, because I know what they are thinking… it’s the equipment. Most are surprised when I show them the equipment I work with. Especially an acquaintance of mine who shoots with a very expensive lens but has trouble producing the types of images he wishes to.
Your point, in this post, holds very true. I compare it to the childhood experience of getting new shoes; that moment when we show them off to the other kids and say… “watch how fast they make me run!”

This is a great read and I really must comment about a recent trip I took to Utah. While I’m normally a huge stickler for putting my camera back into my bag and begin very careful about how I move about I had a moment of laziness while at the red rock canyon just outside of Bryce National Park. I did the unthinkable and did not pack the 5DMII away and went to shift over maybe 15 or so feet. I slipped and have a permanent scar on my left forearm to remind me of that sad day. I will remember that was the day I smashed my camera into the ground busting my camera and 3 day old lens.
Having traveled over for neatly 30 hours to get to Bryce turning around and going home was out of the question. What could I do…..?

WALMART! We drove 1.5 hours to the nearest wallmart and purchased the EOS Rebel T3 with EF-S 18-55mm kit. I did shoot a number of shots with the kit 18-55 lens and thought that they looked fine on my laptop in the truck but I felt more comfortable using my 16-35 for the remainder of the trip.

I have never been asked what shots I took with what camera. In fact, 2 of them were recently judged and approved for an art show in British Columbia.
-Steve-

Wow! What a story, Steve! I’m sorry to hear about your injury – and the destruction of your camera and brand new lens! I guess it’s a darn good thing that WalMart builds stores in every town, ditch, and gully. However, your words illustrate the point perfectly. Thanks so much for sharing!

Interesting feed. Equipment can augment a specific genri (I shoot high speed) but it is only as good as the hand and eye that make it click.
In regards to to equipment vs workshops. No matter what profession one is in, nothing replaces learning, sharing, growing.
As a competitive horse back rider, a dear elderly friend/judge said as we walked through the parking lot, “I wish they’d spend more on better horses and lessons than the rigs to hall the horses in :). Enjoy your blog, and your sharing.

Yes you are correct in that respect. There comes time in a photographers career that they outgrow the capabilities of their equipment. In this case, an upgraded equipment would certainly help. On the other hand we see the article was directed at the those of us who have yet to full understand the capabilities of the current camera and our attitude is that my photography will dramatically improve if only I had better camera.

I could argue this point for hours, but…that’s why at weddings I use those little disposable camera’s on the table. So when the bride looks through those photos, there will be a few rolls of amazing shots in with all the “normal” shots. And I’ve been called and asked a few times if it was me. Proof that the camera is nothing without the genius of a great photographer(like both Jay and Varina). Keep shooting these fantastic shots that inspire me. And thank you for all the tips and hints.

Thanks, Tom. That’s quite a compliment. We’ll be shooting my brother’s wedding this weekend – but I guess we’ll go ahead and use our expensive camera gear. He might be a bit upset if we show up with a stash of disposable cameras! 😉 Maybe being a pro is all about looking the part!

Yeah… like I said… there are EXCEPTIONS to every rule. Anyone with a pulse can take a beautiful photograph at Yosemite. The shot isn’t a bad one at all, kudos. I’m simply stating that had you used better equipment… the shot would have been even better. You probably wouldn’t have the noise… or your shadows fall off in the trees, unless that was on purpose. Did you follow up and find the shot that the “pro” took?? Odds are that even though it was taken on the same day… with the same conditions… his turned out better than yours did. Rent an RZ or Hasselblad V and use some Velvia(that’s film)… I bet you’d come away with a BETTER shot than the one you took.

On one of my trips to Yosemite in winter, I wanted to photograph the Gates of the Valley at sunset(I know, I am the 10 Millionth to do that but who can resist;-)). Needless to say, the place was filled with many photographers.
I usually scout with a really cheap Sony Cybershot point and shoot. I find it easier this way as opposed to lugging all the gear(yes, kitchen sink included!) and looking for that perfect spot. I encountered a “pro” photographer with a ton of fancy equipment who almost asked me to take some ‘snapshots’ and leave. I smiled, returned almost an hr later with my “fancy” equipment. Suddenly, this guy, who threw me out offered to move a bit and made some space. Ridiculous, but I was certainly thankful ;-)). This is what he had to say “Hey, you are a sandbag!!!! You didn’t tell me you shoot with a better camera than mine. So, was the P&S camera just to fool people?”. Well, I laughed it off saying, “You just assumed everything. But thanks for the spot”.I didn’t understand what he meant by “sandbag” but realized it wasn’t a compliment.

I am all for the seeking of know-how, I’m also acutely aware that even the best and most expensive gear isn’t going to take the picture FOR me. But there are always going to be the exceptions to the rule, which I won’t list here… but that’s all they are… exceptions. There are limitations put on those who can’t afford the best gear, and thus we make due and that artistic compromise is reflected in the work, no matter how “perfect” the shot may be. Now obviously you can’t give the highest end equipment to someone who doesn’t know what an f-stop is, because it won’t do them any good… the expensive stuff won’t give you instant photography powers turning you into some sort of photo shoot super hero.

Bottom line is that if the “pros” could make the same quality images that they do without a Hasselblad HD3 and top of the line Profoto lighting(Aka almost $100K in equipment) they would.

I’m not a professional, nor do I own equipment that’s considered fancy. But I have played with a variety of low tech equipment prior to the digital age. Depending on what I was going for, I think I made some decent images with different types of toy and pinhole cameras. Of course back then, there was a lot in the developing and printing process.

I like your comment Varina about Shakespeare’s great pen. Talent and skill are a big part of the equation, but nice equipment helps.

I can’t take credit for the pen comment – that was Michael… but it was pretty funny.

Some of the low-tech equipment can be lots of fun to work with. And I used to love working in the darkroom – though I think I spent entirely too much time in there! 😉 It’s nice to be able to do all my processing on the computer. It’s great to be able to stop at any moment, save my work, and come back to it later. In the good old darkroom days, stopping in the middle would have resulted in a ruined print. Now, if my kids need me, I can drop everything and return later. No problem at all. I still believe the (digital) darkroom work is essential… but now, I can work it into my busy schedule, rather than working my schedule around the darkroom.

I have encountered the same mind set at every art show and festival where I have displayed my work. I think in some ways it is meant to be complimentary most of the time but it really rubs the creative professional the wrong way.
Kind of similar to saying Shakespeare had a really nice pen and Monet had really nice brushes….probably true but I’m just saying…

I’ve been following yours and Jay’s work for the past year and its been a pleasant exhirlating and inspiring journey for me.I just joined Cleveland Photographic Society( CPS)a few weeks ago though my first Fundamentals class was Summer 2009.For long, I beleived that “good pictures are made with good cameras and excellent picutres come from expennsive cameras”.

Having learnt the fundamentals( I think) and beginning to make pictures now, I would be upset if somebody said something like that.

Before you changed your website layout, Jay had an article of Hyperfocal distance which I can’t seem to find now.Though I find plenty of hyperfocal charts online, Jay had the distance calculator even for 200mm focal length lenses.

We’ll look forward to seeing you at CPS soon, Vasu! I’m glad you decided to join! We always look forward to meeting other photographers! The hyperfocal distance article is not available at this time… we are currently updating it. Sorry about that. You can find hyperfocal distance information at http://www.photozone.de/depth-of-field – they have a handy little calculator that will help you out.

While the quality of the glass depends on the amount you spend on it (and therefore the quality of your images), I find more usefulness in spending the money to travel and explore than on more glass.

For example, $1500 on a latest ‘L’ series lens from Canon or a spanking new 7D would be better served instead by making a trip to photograph the glaciers of Alaska or exploring Incan ruins in Peru with your existing gear. Your return on investment (not just in terms of images captured) would be far better.

Over the last 3 years, I have collected a set of gear, which, for the most part, has served its purpose usefully. I am in the process of lightening my accessories like tripod but that happens gradually.

And if there are any special lenses/gear I need, I just rent it online for a week. It is far cheaper and helps me evaluate whether I would really need that piece of gear!

Excellent point, Sathish. I couldn’t agree more. Jay and I try to keep our expenses as low as possible in order to maximize the number of trips we can take each year. We purchase gear when we feel it is necessary, and we try to sell whatever equipment is not in use. Renting gear is also an excellent idea for short trips – and also for testing gear you might want to buy.

Totally Agree !!! I have realized this over time I initially bought my DSLR thinking my phones would be so much better than p&s camera only to realize I was wrong. To learn what your camera can do is an important step. Very nice article

Very good article, as this topic is hotley debated on many photography forum sites. I do agree with you that the basics are better mastered before indulging in igh end cameras and lenses.

For me, I started with a 20D six years ago and am still using it. I have invested in a few good L lenses for quallity, but I think I am ready for a camera body upgrade soon. I’m looking for better noise suppression, dynamic range, AF, and AF micro-adjustment.

Well now Varina, I understand you recently acquired a new 7d. So while one doesn’t have to have the latest and greatest equipment it sure can be an advantage especially as technology advances. Otherwise you could have saved some cash and just gotten another 20d, LOL. Congratulations on your new acquisition and I’m sure you’ll put it to good use.

D. King – :-)) We have Canon 5D MKII, but I often grab my good old 50D (the one I dropped that led to Varina upgrade) to take photos. To me it is not the camera that produces results…It is how the photographer uses the camera that produces results.

Rakesh – Good point! Jay and I work hard to reduce the weight of our gear, too. When we go backpacking, we don’t want lots of extra gear… and the reality is that we don’t need much gear. When you consider the fact that we must carry a tripod, extra batteries, memory cards, food and water, the camera body and lenses… and of course, the camera bag… it hardly makes sense to add more weight if it can be avoided!

I dont know why if not for the professional stock/magazine/sports/fashion photographers it has become a routine thought that the best cam in the market will give people the best images.

People are forgetting that they can do wonders with what they already have but still the hint of reviews we find in the market which says “this camera has best ISO performance” or “this camera has best pixel density” is attacking each and everybody’s mind and driving them towards the luxury camera market.

With regard to your 7D + 70-200 instance – i have come across quite a few people themselves whom people are rating them as “Professional Photographer” just because he/she has the best camera available in the market

The still dont believe that its the photographer and not the camera/lens which makes the image.

Thanks for the comment, Shivakumar! I seem to have hit on something that many others are thinking about, too. It’s funny to think that people assume camera gear makes you a good photographer. If I have the most expensive paint brushes and canvas, will that make me a better painter? 😉

Great article! It’s very relevant for me because I’m on a verge of upgrading my gear. And it’s not because I think it’s going to make me a better photographer but only because I’m getting to a point in my skill level where I’m realizing the shortcomings of my current camera (low light handling, resolution, etc).

And speaking of expensive lenses, I have some that get that “she must be a pro” look but I rarely use them. One of my favorite lenses and also the cheapest has been my 50mm f/1.4. So it’s not about what gear you have but more about how you use it to convey your message.

Thanks, Aleks! You are definitely upgrading your gear for the right reasons! It’s so important to understand what your equipment can and can not do… but many photographers really don’t know what they need and why they need it. Of course, there are many who DO know.

I like the last line in your comment – “It’s not about what gear you have, but more about how you use it to convey your message.” Well said! And thanks for the comment!